Improvement in combined shears and button-hole cutters



A. swmaua.

Combined Shears and Button-Hole Gutters.

No. 138,542 P atentedMay 6,1873.

m PHOTD-UIHUGRAPIIIC co. Mflqsaomvsk PnucESS "UNITED STATES ALFRED SWINGLE, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN COMBINED SHEARS AND BUTTQN-HOLE CUTTER$.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 13$,512, dated May 6, 1873; application filrd December 23, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED SWINGLE, of San Francisco city and county, State of California, have invented a Combined Shears and Button-Hole Gutter; and I do hereby declare the following description and accompanying drawing are suflicient to enable any person skilled in the art or science to which it most nearly appertains to make and use my said invention without further invention or experiment.

My invention consists, first, in constructing the two parts of a pair of scissors or shears out of sheet-steel by stamping out the parts in the proper shape and then completing or thickening the rings by forming and swaging a layer of sheet silver, brass, or other metal around them; secondly, in a novel adjustment of a button-hole cutter with the scissors or shears; and lastly, in providing that portion of the cutting-blades which is nearest to the pivot with a different angle from that given to the main blades, so as to provide a suitable point for cutting small pieces of metal, whalebone, and other substances without dullin g the cutting-blades.

In order to more fully illustrate and explain my invention, reference is had to the accompanyin g drawing forming a part of this specification,'in which- Figure l is a view of my invention with a section of one of the rings. Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-section of one of the rings. Fig. 3 is a back view, showing the plate I.

A A are the two parts of a pair of scissors or shears. These parts will be stamped out of plate steel of the proper thicknessand in the desired shape, the rings 1) I) also being stamped out at the same time. In order to finish the rings and give them the necessary thickness, 1 take a strip of German silver, brass, or other thin plate metal, 0, and bend it to thepropcr shape to fit inside-of each of the rings. The edges of these strips will then be swaged down over the sides of the rings so as to encircle the itiside edge and two opposide sides of the rings. By this means the scissors or shears can be very cheaply constructed, and at the same time be more substantial than as ordinarily made. In stamping out the part A I leave a short blade, 01, on the inner side of the handle of the scissors or shears between the ring and the pivot, and on the opposite part A a projection, e, of equal length, is formed, as shown, so as to come directly opposite the short blade 01. A slot, f, is made through the handle of the part A in the wide portion formed by the projec tion 0. g is a narrow blade, equal in length to the blade d, to one side of which is secured an upward-projecting side piece, 1'. This blade fits against the edge of the projectione so as to form a blade, the side piece fitting against the side of the blade or projection. A screw, j, passes through the slot f and into the side piece, so as to secure the blade in place. The meeting edges of the blades cl and g are sharp ened in the ordinary manner of sharpening the blades of scissors or shears, so that, when the forward or cutting blades of the scissors are closed, the short blades on the opposite side of the pivot are also closed, and serve for cutting button-holes. A slotted plate, K, is secured transversely to the blade 9 by the same screw which holds the blade in place, and this plate can be moved to or from the edge, as desired, and serves to gage the length. of the button-hole by limiting the amount of motion of the cutting-blades.

This button-hole cutter is operated by placing the article in which the slit is to be out between the handles on the side of thepiv- 0t opposite the cutting-blades, and thus closing the handles. The blade 9 may, if desired, be made a part of the handle, the same as the blade (I.

In order to provide a suitable place for cutting small pieces of metal or other substance, I construct the cutting-blades of the shears with a short portion, 0, next to the pivot upon which the parts work, at a slightly opposite angle to the angle of the cutting-blades, so that, by carrying the substance to be cut close up to the pivot, it can be readily out without dulling the portion of the blades ordinarily used in cutting cloth or other fabric.

By this means I provide a neatly-constructed pair of scissors or shears, combined with a button-hole cutter which can be cheaply and substantially made, and which will be very convenient for the use of milliners, dressmakers, tailors, and all persons who use scissors and shears.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patout, is-

1. As a new article of manufacture, scissors or shears, the two parts of which are stamped out of sheet metal, and the rings of which are finished and thickened by a partially-surrounding thickness of sheet metal, substantially as above described. I

2. The-permanent blade d, in combination with the attached movable blade 9 and slotted gage-plate K, bot-h adjusted by the same screw, substantially as and for the purpose above described.

3. Providing the cutting-blades of scissors or shears with a short portion, 0, next to the pivot, which has a slightly-opposite angle from the outer portion of the blades, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In witness whereof 'I hereunto set my hand and seal.

ALFRED SWINGLE. Witnesses J. L. BOONE, O. M. RICHARDSON. 

